Expert Analysis

• UK's Proposed Investment Scrutiny Powers Are Far-Reaching

  

  The recently issued National Security and Investment White Paper proposes a significant expansion in the U.K. government's powers to scrutinize foreign investments. If the proposals are brought into force, the U.K. regime will be one of the most stringent in the world, say Douglas Lahnborg and Matthew Rose of Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP.

• Relief For Cos. Conducting UK Internal Investigations

  

  After almost a year and a half of uncertainty, the U.K. Court of Appeal has restored the eminently sensible position that documents created in an internal investigation are capable of being covered by litigation privilege when a criminal investigation or prosecution is in prospect, say Simon Airey and Joshua Domb of Paul Hastings LLP.

• Breaking Down The UK's Revised Corporate Governance Code

  

  Recent changes to the U.K. Corporate Governance Code should reassure investors that companies with a premium listing on the London Stock Exchange are committed to being standard-bearers. Issuers may also benefit from the workforce engagement, corporate culture and diversity changes that will be brought into businesses, say Joseph Ferraro and Jennifer Tait of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP.

• Q&A

  Back To School: Widener's Rod Smolla Talks Free Speech

  

  In this new series featuring law school luminaries, Widener University Delaware Law School dean Rodney Smolla discusses teaching philosophies, his interest in First Amendment law, and arguing before the U.S. Supreme Court in Virginia v. Black.

• When To Use Options Analysis In Damages Assessments

  

  In both the U.K. and abroad, the discounted cash flow methodology is often considered the "go to" valuation approach when conducting a damages assessment. However, DCF is not always appropriate and damages experts should know when to use the option analysis methodology instead, says Ronnie Barnes of Cornerstone Research Inc.

• Opinion

  UK 'Unexplained Wealth Orders' Will Discourage Investors

  

  The United Kingdom has taken the unusual step of introducing significant retrospective powers that could unravel acquisitions and transactions from decades ago. The government's intentions are laudable, but its new "unexplained wealth orders" cast doubts on the U.K.'s appetite for foreign investment and may hurt national interests, says Simon Bushell of Signature Litigation LLP.

• Brexit: Bracing For A No-Deal Scenario

  

  Once considered the “cliff edge,” the possibility of the United Kingdom exiting from the European Union without agreeing on a trade deal has moved from unthinkable to increasingly likely. Both sides are ramping up preparations for a no-deal scenario, which would have significant implications for businesses in all sectors, say attorneys with Baker McKenzie LLP.

• Considering Contract Termination Under English Common Law

  

  The U.K. High Court Commercial Division's recent decision in Phones 4U v. EE is a reminder of the care with which contracting parties should consider their rights when their English law contracts appear to be failing, says John Laird of Crowell & Moring LLP.

• UK Corporations Face Growing Risk Of Class Actions

  

  Recent years have seen an increased focus on class action litigation in U.K. courts, with a rise in high-profile and high-value claims being brought against corporate defendants. Furthermore, various factors suggest that the trend is likely to continue, say attorneys at Herbert Smith Freehills LLP.

• Goldman Sachs Decision Raises Bank Failure Questions In UK

  

  Depending on your political beliefs, the U.K. Supreme Court's recent judgment in Goldman Sachs v. Novo Banco either illustrates the benefits of remaining in the European Union or highlights the dangers of not breaking free from it, says Ben Pilbrow of Shepherd and Wedderburn LLP.

• Opinion

  A Revolution For 3rd-Party Funding In The UK

  

  Only 10 years ago, third-party funding was an exotic black art at the fringes of appropriate behavior in the United Kingdom. Now it is formally approved and championed by Court of Appeal judges and there is a wide range of funding options available to practitioners, says Guy Harvey of Shepherd and Wedderburn LLP.

• UK Seeks To Balance Asset Protection And Protectionism

  

  In response to the evolving geopolitical threats of the 21st century, the United Kingdom at the end of July began an initiative to enhance its powers to review or block foreign acquisitions of sensitive British assets. The challenge will be striking a balance between protecting legitimate strategic concerns and facilitating international investment, say attorneys at King & Spalding LLP.

• Is It Time To Prosecute UK Cos. For Human Rights Violations?

  

  The idea of holding companies criminally liable for human rights abuses committed overseas has gained traction over the past decade. Though the U.K. government has made it clear that it has no immediate plans for further legislation in this area, calls for corporate criminal liability are only likely to get louder, say Andrew Smith and Alice Lepeuple of Corker Binning.

• 6 Trends Will Shape Future International Commercial Disputes

  

  The world of international litigation and arbitration tends to move slowly — however, I expect the pace of change to accelerate in the coming decade as six trends take hold, says Cedric Chao, U.S. head of DLA Piper's international arbitration practice.

• Fortis Case Confirms Viability Of Dutch Settlement Law

  

  A Dutch court's approval this month of a €1.3 billion ($1.5 billion) collective settlement of claims brought by shareholders of the former Fortis shows that the Dutch Act on Collective Settlement of Mass Claims can be used to resolve transnational disputes on a classwide, opt-out basis, say Jonathan Richman of Proskauer Rose LLP and Ianika Tzankova of Tilburg University.